It is difficult to believe that, in these days of progress and amidst the blessings of civilisation, a fellow man can be allowed to lie seriously ill in an empty house in Rushden, but it is a fact. And what makes it worse is that the sufferer is a man of seventy-two years of age. The case first came under the notice of the police on Monday afternoon and was promptly reported to the Sanitary Inspector (Mr. H. Hunter). Mr. Hunter visited a house in Sussex-place, Higham Hill, popularly known as “The Rookery,” and there found an old man named Wm. Hazeldine, 72 years old, lying on a few rags and bits of sacking on the floor in a corner of one of the rooms. There was nothing else in the houses except a bit of broken bread in an old basket. All the windows were broken and the holes were stuffed with rags, Mr. Hunter called the attention of Mr. G. R. Turner, relieving officer, to the matter, and Mr. Turner took Dr. Owen with him to the house. Dr. Owen found Hazeldine very seriously ill and as it was impossible to provide properly for the sufferer in the house where he was lying Mr. Turner carefully conveyed him to Wellingborough Workhouse Infirmary. It appears that Hazeldine and his son were not really tenants of the house, but, finding it empty, took possession of it. Note: Workhouse Deaths - William Hazeldine aged 72, of Rushden, died there on 14th April 1908.